Speaker Biographies
Mark A. Huselid, Ph.D.
Monday – Keynote Speaker
“The Workforce Scorecard: Managing and Measuring Human Capital to Drive Strategy Execution”
Dr. Mark Huselid is Professor of HR Strategy in the School of Management and Labor Relations (SMLR) at Rutgers University. Dr. Huselid is also a Partner in Beatty-Huselid-Becker Associates, a management consulting firm specializing in the design, implementation, and measurement of HR and workforce strategies. Dr. Huselid was the Editor of the Human Resource Management Journal from 2000-2004, and is a current or former member of numerous professional and academic boards. In addition, he served on the Board of Directors of the SHRM Foundation from 1999-2004. Dr. Huselid is a frequent speaker to professional and academic audiences, having delivered nearly 500 presentations throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Dr. Huselid's first book The HR Scorecard: Linking People, Strategy & Performance (with Brian Becker and Dave Ulrich) was published in 2001 by the Harvard Business School Press. The HR Scorecard has been translated into ten languages and is an international bestseller. His second book The Workforce Scorecard: Managing Human Capital to Execute Strategy (with Brian Becker and Dick Beatty) was published by the Harvard Business School Press in 2005. The Workforce Scorecard has been translated into eight languages to date and is also an international bestseller. His latest book The Differentiated Workforce (with Brian Becker and Dick Beatty) is currently in preparation for publication by the Harvard Business School Press in 2008.
Dr. Huselid lives in Princeton Junction, NJ, with his wife and two children.
Melanie M. Keller
A-1 “Competencies Can Be Your Compass: The Foundation to Recruit, Retain, Renew and Retool”
Melanie Keller is the Executive Officer and Director of the Division of Management Services for the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Each year, CSR receives about 80,000 grant applications, uses nearly 20,000 reviewers and hosts over 1,600 review meetings, which require over 60,000 hotel rooms and travel reimbursements. As CSR’s Executive Officer, Ms. Keller oversees staff and contractors who provide critical services to CSR and NIH: administrative, financial management, committee management, information technology, procurement, and management analysis services. She also serves as the Center’s Deputy Ethics Counselor and holds final responsibility for the CSR Ethics Program.
Prior to this position, Ms. Keller came from the NIH Office of Strategic Management Planning, where she held two positions. She started as the Director of the NIH Training Center before becoming the Director of the NIH Workforce Development Program. Here Ms. Keller was responsible for NIH-wide career development, intern and leadership development programs as well as NIH-specific training programs. She launched a major agency competency development program for eleven key administrative occupations.
Prior to these positions, she worked for the NIH Office of Human Resources, where she was the program manager of the Emerging Leader Intern Program after serving as the Training Program Manager for administrative systems training. Ms. Keller’s first job at NIH was as the human resource specialist and administrative officer for the National Cancer Institute. Before coming to NIH, she held a number of administrative/personnel positions at the Food and Drug Administration. She also served on the International Public Management Association for Human Resources–Eastern Region’s Executive Committee, and has held a variety of leadership roles in that organization since 1997 at the local, regional and international levels. Ms. Keller holds a B.S. degree in management studies and human resource management from the University of Maryland and will receive her M.B.A. in business in 2009 from the University of Maryland.
Mary Affeldt, Co-Presenter
A-1 “Competencies Can Be Your Compass: The Foundation to Recruit, Retain, Renew and Retool”
Mary Affeldt, M.S., is the Executive Officer for the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health (NIH), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As the senior business official for the Institute, Ms. Affeldt is responsible for all business management activities and infrastructure support that are so vital to the continued success of NIDA’s scientific mission. Ms. Affeldt has 26 years of experience in the administrative and business management of scientific programs. Prior to her most recent appointment at the National Human Genome Research Institute as the Associate Director for Management, Ms. Affeldt served as a senior administrative manager for NIDA where during her 18-year tenure she assumed progressively challenging and responsible positions and in 1994 was appointed Chief of the Administrative Management Branch for the NIDA Intramural Research Program. Ms. Affeldt entered government as an Administrative Assistant in 1980, joining NIDA when it was part of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration, and before NIDA was later made part of NIH.
Ms. Affeldt currently serves on numerous NIH-wide projects and executive management initiatives such as the Deputy Director for Management Seminar Series; the NIH Change Management Governance Committee; the NIH Business Systems Change Management Committee; the Bayview Research Center Executive Steering Committee; the A-76 Functional Workgroup; and the NIH Continuity of Operations Workgroup. She also served as a key leader of the NIH Administrative Officer competency model project, designed to help managers recruit the right people with the right skills as well as strengthen and improve the competencies of administrative staff throughout the NIH.
Ms. Affeldt moved to Montgomery County, Maryland, from Hawaii in her senior year of high school. She received her B.S. in Business Administration from Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, MD., and an M.S. in Management from the University of Maryland, University College in College Park. Ms. Affeldt is married and lives in Ellicott City, MD. In her free time, she downhill skis with her family and enjoys watching her husband and son ride their dirt bikes on their farm in Western Maryland.
Jack Agati
A-2 “Abandon Ship”
Jack Agati combines his education and experiences into a practical and common sense series of presentations relating to the Social Aspects of Business. Over the last fifteen years as a professional speaker his appearances at conferences and business engagements have earned him a reputation for useful and relevant material combined with a humor that makes learning enjoyable.
Jack is a graduate of West Virginia University with a Master's Degree in Counseling, and has done post-graduate work at the University of Vermont. Prior to becoming a presenter, Jack worked for over fifteen years in public education as a Counselor and Director of Special Education, and held management positions in the private sector. [http://getaheadpro.com/jack-agati.html]
Helene Noble
B-1 “Mayday! How to Stay Afloat While Giving and Receiving 
Performance Feedback”
Helene Noble received her B.S. in Physical Education and Recreation from the University of Maryland and has served in a variety of Federal administrative positions with specific expertise in Human Resources. She began her career at the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and from there proceeded to work at Customs, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the IRS, and then the NIH. Helene came to NIH in February 2000. She is currently the Director of the Workforce Relations Division and provides oversight services in Performance Management, Employee and Labor Relations, Benefits and Retirement Counseling. She has also been appointed to the Federal Women’s Program and assists in identifying a wide range of women’s issues at the NIH.
Jessica Hawkins, Co-Presenter
B-1 “Mayday! How to Stay Afloat While Giving and Receiving Performance Feedback”
Jessica Hawkins is a Human Resources Specialist with the Office of the Director in the National Institutes of Health. She began her federal career in human resources with the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1995. She began working for NIH in 2000 as an Employee Relations Specialist. She now works in the Workforce Relations Division with specific expertise in the HHS Performance Management Appraisal Program and the SES and Organizational Performance Management System. Jessica obtained a B.S. in Psychology from Towson University in 2000 and an M.S. in Counseling from Johns Hopkins University in 2007.
John Kolm
B-2 “Plot a Course to Your Brand!”
John Kolm was born in Melbourne and worked in the U.S. Intelligence Community from 1983 till 1993, running missions in the field and specializing in international liaison. He left the Federal Public Service at SES level at age 37 in 1995 as Operations Director of Australia’s FDA. In 1996 he founded Team Results with ex-fighter pilot Peter Ring, originally so that they could both learn more about what worked and what did not work with people and teams. Team Results grew rapidly, and now runs team and leadership development and organizational planning programs on four continents. In 2004 he wrote a Penguin best-seller on success and leadership at work, Crocodile Charlie and the Holy Grail, which is published in seven languages and fourteen countries including the U.S. A graduate of the University of Melbourne and the U.S. National Cryptologic School, John now lives in Bethesda MD with his wife and son. He remains passionate about the role of strong government in a sometimes threatening world, and has committed the resources of Team Results to doing everything possible to assist the Government of his adopted country.
Tammy Signer-Holmes
B-3 “AHOY Mates! Say YES to Rewards, Recognition and Retention”
Tammy Signer-Holmes is the Recognition Administrator at the New York State Department of Taxation & Finance. Department of Taxation and Finance employs over 4800 employees.
Since the year 2000, Tammy has been responsible for the management and enhancement of the organizations rewards and recognition program. This multi-faceted program was designed to recognize employees at all levels for key achievements within and outside their typical job duties, as well as for extraordinary achievement in their personal lives and in the community in which they live.
Ms. Signer-Holmes is currently a member of the Governor’s Office of Employee Relation Recognition Network. This practitioner’s community of practice works to promote a culture of appreciation within state agencies in order to contribute to a positive and productive work environment.
Kiaran Johnson-Lew, Co-Presenter
B-3 “AHOY Mates! Say YES to Rewards, Recognition and Retention”
Kiaran Johnson-Lew is the Director of Human Resources Management at the New York State Department of Taxation & Finance. Most recently, Ms. Johnson-Lew served as the department’s Director of Management Analysis & Project Services. Kiaran has presented workshops on various management issues at both the state and federal level.
Ms. Johnson-Lew currently serves as the President-Elect of IPMA-HR Eastern Region. Kiaran is an appointed Fellow of the New York State Academy of Public Administration; the recipient of the American Society for Public Administration’s New Administrator Award and serves on numerous professional and not-for-profit boards and committees. Kiaran holds a MPA from the University of Delaware.
Kenneth Weinstock, Esq.
C-1 “Navigating the Treacherous Legal Tide”
Mr. Weinstock represents public and private sector employers exclusively in all aspects of labor relations and employment law before state and federal courts, arbitration boards and state and federal administrative agencies. He represents employers in collective bargaining negotiations, grievance and interest arbitrations, union organizing campaigns and prohibited practice complaints. Mr. Weinstock also represents employers in all types of workplace discrimination claims before state and federal agencies and courts. He also counsels public and private sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment including compliance with all laws and regulations governing the workplace, contract administration, personnel policies, sexual harassment training, hiring and firing matters, employee testing and general personnel and human resource concerns.
Mr. Weinstock serves as the Update Editor for the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities' Municipal Employee Relations Act Manual, and previously served as Contributing Editor for the Developing Labor Law and Connecticut Employment Law Letter.
Mr. Weinstock is also presently a faculty member for the University of Connecticut School of Business Executive Education Program and has been an annual presenter for the last five years at the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association Annual Conference. He is a faculty member for the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association’s Labor Relations Academy and he lectures throughout New England and nationally for various human resource, chamber of commerce and legal education organizations on various labor and employment topics.
In 2003, the Hartford Business Journal selected Mr. Weinstock as one of its “40 Under Forty” award recipients, recognizing him as one of Greater Hartford’s up and coming business and civic leaders.
Mr. Weinstock received his Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law in 1993 where he was a Hennessey Scholar. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science magna cum laude from Boston University in 1990, where he was a Harry S. Truman National Scholar from New Jersey.
Mr. Weinstock is admitted to the Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey state and federal bars.
Sandy Furness, M.A.
C-2 "The Employee Advocate: A Life Preserver in Stormy Seas”
Sandy Furness is a Managing Partner with Immordino Furness, LLC. Sandy recently retired from the New Jersey Department of Transportation. She has had managerial experience in both private industry as well as government agencies. She has taught in both private and public high schools and as a guest lecturer at various colleges. She developed the first Employee Advocate Program at the Department of Transportation, which was recognized by Quality New Jersey as a “Best Practice.” She has conducted numerous mediations and is widely known for her presentations on alternate dispute resolution strategies. Her specialties include employee development and training, mediation and alternate dispute resolution, and developing presentations.
Kathleen Immordino, Ph.D. Co-Presenter
C-2 "The Employee Advocate: A Life Preserver in Stormy Seas”
Dr. Kathleen Immordino is on the staff of the Center for Organizational Development and Leadership at Rutgers University, following a career in government service. She served as an Assistant Commissioner for the New Jersey Departments of Transportation, and the Department of Personnel, and Executive Administrator at the New Jersey Department of Labor. She serves as an adjunct faculty member in various business management programs. Kate has extensive managerial experience in human resources and is a specialist in employee development and training, as well as facilitation, strategic planning and organizational assessment. She is a Managing Partner with Immordino Furness, LLC.
Lynda von Bargen, Panel Member
C-3 “Hidden Treasurer: Tax Advantage Benefit Plans”
Lynda S. von Bargen has been employed at Montgomery College since 1987 where she currently serves as the Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer. In this capacity, Lynda is responsible on a college-wide basis for coordinating and supervising human resource functions in the areas of recruitment, selection and employment, classification and compensation, benefits administration, risk management and employee wellness. Prior to joining the College, Lynda worked as a Benefits Consultant for The Wyatt Company and as a Benefits Analyst for the Air Line Pilots Association.
Lynda earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Business Administration from Hood College.
Lynda is a Past-President of IPMA-HR. More importantly, she has been a member of the Montgomery County Maryland Chapter of IPMA-HR since 1989. Lynda has served on both the Chapter and Region Executive Boards in several capacities including President of the Montgomery County Maryland Chapter and the Eastern Region. She has also served as the Eastern Region Representative to the IPMA-HR Executive Council and as a member on several different national committees.
Tricia Strittmatter, Panel Member
C-3 “Hidden Treasurer: Tax Advantage Benefit Plans”
Tricia Strittmatter is the Chief, Benefits & Payroll Liaison Branch, Workforce Relations Division, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Tricia began her Federal career with the Internal Revenue Service and has been with NIH since 2000. She targeted her work in Federal benefits in 1988 while working with the FDA. She was part of their ground floor efforts that centralized the benefits function agency wide. In 2002, she again had the opportunity to lead the efforts to centralize the benefits functions at the NIH.
Tricia has worked extensively in communicating Federal benefit programs. This has included creating new employee orientations, retirement information sessions, voluntary separation incentive programs, and introducing the Federal Employees Retirement System transfer opportunities. She continues to write, edit and present this information or a recurring basis. She serves as supervisor, leader and mentor to others in the benefits and human resources field and is relied upon for her expertise in the benefits arena.
Over the past 7 years, the Federal benefit sector has introduced five new programs to their benefits package. Four of the five new programs are tax advantaged programs. Tricia was instrumental in leading the implementation of these new programs and introducing the programs to the NIH.
Don L. Platt, Panel Member
C-3 “Hidden Treasurer: Tax Advantage Benefit Plans”
Don Platt has over 15 years in the Insurance Industry and, until April 2008, was the Human Resource Manager-Benefits for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. He recently accepted a position with DynCorp International as Director, Corporate Benefits. Don has a Bachelor of Science in Business and Education and holds Life and Health Agent and Brokers licenses.
Before joining WSSC in 2006, Don was a Vice President at Adventist Risk Management where he had profit and loss responsibility for benefit plans for over 50,000 lives. Don provided health care administration along with designing and implementing group and supplemental life and long-term disability programs with more than $150 million in premiums. In addition, he designed and implemented an international life insurance product for the organization’s 80,000 international employees.
Prior to his insurance industry experience, Don spent 11 years as a Vice President/CFO and Chief Operating Officer for several acute care health facilities in the U.S, and spent three years overseas in Kenya, East Africa as the Business Administrator of a teacher’s college.
Don and his wife Gwen have two children and seven grandchildren. Don volunteers at the National Institutes of Health’s Children’s Inn, provides ground transportation for Angel Flight’s in Maryland, and serves regularly as a Montgomery County Election Judge.
Daryl Chapman,Panel Facilitator
C-3 “Hidden Treasurer: Tax Advantage Benefit Plans”
Daryl Chapman has over 18 years in the Insurance Industry and is a noted consultant, author and sought after speaker on retiree health care issues. He recently merged his five year old health care consulting company with the nation’s largest wholesale insurance brokerage: American Wholesale Insurance. He is currently transitioning into a role on the Executive Team at AmWins Group Benefits.
Prior to joining Am Wins, Daryl was a Senior Vice President at Marsh and McLennan Corporation. He had profit and loss responsibility for a 500 person, $50 million, four site administrative unit that provided health care administration and contracting for almost a million members in a combination of HMO, PPO and traditional Fee for service settings.
Daryl was the architect of a 60,000 person retiree health care practice. He has been responsible also for managing the benefits for associations as small as 50,000 members and as large as 3,000,000 members. His association clients had over 300,000 policies and several hundred million dollars of premium in force
He has a Masters of Science in Management, A Bachelors of Arts in Economics, and holds many professional designations: Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU); Chartered Financial Consultant (CHFC); Registered Employee Benefit Consultant (REBC); Registered Health Underwriter (RHU); Licensed Life and Health Agent; Licensed Broker; Licensed Long Term Care and Medicare Specialist.
Before entry into the insurance industry, Daryl spent 13 years as a Naval Intelligence officer. He served as the Aide to the Director of Naval Intelligence, the Assistant Chief of Staff (intelligence) for the Commander Seventh Fleet and as the Senior Analyst for the General Defense Intelligence Program.
Daryl and his wife Susan have a 22 year old daughter. He is the owner and a managing member of CBA Charitable Group, a 501(c)3 focused on helping disenfranchised children.
Scott Letourneau
C-4 “Guiding to Advancements in Technology for Public Sector Recruitment, Selection, and Testing”
NEOGOV is the leader in providing On Demand Workforce Management Solutions to the Public Sector. Scott Letourneau, NEOGOV President, is responsible for working with over 200 Public Sector agencies to lead the change in public sector jurisdictions nationwide to utilize available technology to eliminate labor intensive, costly, and outdated Human Resource practices. Scott specifically works with Human Resource and Personnel Departments to promote strategic partnerships with internal departments, become more customer focused, and lead the way as an example for other public sector agencies to decrease operation costs, while increasing employee retention and satisfaction. The objective is to prove that HR is an effective and efficient organization that consistently identifies, selects, hires, and retains the best-fit candidates for your agencies.
Mary Thomas Newsom, M. Ed.
Tuesday Plenary, “A Boatload of Ideas for Communicating Across Cultures”
Mary Thomas Newsom has worked as a consultant for over fifteen years. She is owner and President of Systems III, L.L.C., an educational consulting firm specializing in organizational development, speaking and training. With a Masters of Education degree and post-graduate studies and certification in both counseling and administration, she brings a wealth of expertise to her work. Having trained at the Maryland Academy of Dramatic Arts, she is quite comfortable with audiences of any size. In addition to speaking locally, nationally and internationally Mary has penned two educational publications. She has also written a book review for the Journal of Education for Students Placed At Risk produced by Johns Hopkins University. Her article entitled, Roots and Wings on cultural diversity was published by the Montgomery Times. Mary has appeared on both radio and television to share her expertise on a variety of topics.
A speaker to educate and motivate most aptly describes Mary Thomas Newsom. Mary helps workers learn practical strategies that can be used immediately to produce better outcomes. Participants are won over with this speaker’s warm style and information packed presentations. For one hour or one day, Mary provides mini lectures, experiential activities, slide presentations, and many opportunities to communicate with the presenter and other participants. Mary won’t leave success to chance; she plans for it!
Cindy C. Maher
D-1 “Navigating through Dissonance: Coaching Leaders to be More Emotionally Intelligent”
Cindy Maher is a Managing Partner at Leading Edge Coaching & Development. She is responsible for designing and implementing organizational strategies for client companies in a variety of industries including marketing & advertising, financial services, and government agencies. With more than 15 years of experience in leadership education, executive team development, and performance management strategies, Cindy has presented for keynote and concurrent sessions at a variety of professional conferences. Prior to starting up Leading Edge in 2004, Cindy led Leadership Development efforts at ING North America and held a number of senior HR positions at Aetna that included Talent Management and Succession Planning. By night, you can see Cindy performing comedy in venues around Connecticut. The combination of her expertise in business, leadership practices, coaching, organizational development and an infectious brand of humor sets her apart from other consultants in the marketplace.
Carol Grannis, Co-Presenter
D-1 “Navigating through Dissonance: Coaching Leaders to be More Emotionally Intelligent”
Carol Grannis is a Founding Partner of Leading Edge Coaching and Development. She is responsible for managing critical client relationships, assessing organizational needs and implementing lasting organizational efforts from employee surveys and performance management processes, to leadership development and executive coaching. With 15 years of experience in leadership development and HR strategies, Carol has worked with clients from a rich variety of industries including pharma, financial services, advertising and healthcare across the United States and Canada. Carol’s gift is in building trusted relationships with business leaders and executing on the key HR initiatives that will make a difference to their bottom-line and company’s overall reputation in the marketplace. Prior to starting up Leading Edge, Carol held senior HR positions at ING Financial Services, Protocare Research and the Chicago Center for Clinical Research. She also holds a Masters of Education in Adult Learning. With a passion for helping client companies reach their potential, Carol never fails to leave a memorable and lasting mark on those who meet and work with her.
David B. Ritter, Esq.
D-2 “Wellness at Work: Implementing Effective and Legal Incentives for Healthy Behavior”
E-3 “My Employees are Blogging: What Do I Do Next?”
David B. Ritter chairs Neal Gerber Eisenberg’s Labor & Employment Practice group, where he represents management in all areas of labor and employment law. He has extensive nationwide experience in federal and state court litigation in the areas of employment discrimination, including harassment claims, noncompete, trade secret and restrictive covenants, employment torts and all other litigation related to the employment relationship. David routinely handles matters before governmental agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, state equal employment commissions, the Department of Labor and the OFCCP. David has also defended employers faced with claims under Sarbanes-Oxley. He handles National Labor Relations Board proceedings and arbitration, as well as affirmative action plans, employment issues related to corporate transactions and counseling of employers on employment issues. He represents mainly high-level executives on issues related to employment and separation agreements. David has a special knowledge in training employees in the entire range of employment law issues.
David is or has been a contributing editor or monthly columnist for The National Law Journal, Employment Discrimination Law (Schlei & Grossman), The Developing Labor Law, The Employment Law Strategist, The Corporate Counselor and You and the Law. He has published numerous articles and is a frequent lecturer on a variety of employment law topics such as sexual harassment, employment discrimination law and union-management relations.
David is a member of both the Labor & Employment Law and the Litigation sections of the American Bar Association. David was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1985 and is admitted to practice in the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for Eastern Michigan and the Sixth and Seventh Circuits Courts of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. David earned his J.D., cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University in 1985 where he was also a member of the Law Review. In 1980, he graduated from Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations with a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations. David is AV® Peer Review Rated (the highest possible rating) via the Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Ratings. He has also been named for inclusion within The Best Lawyers in America 2007 and 2008 editions (within Labor & Employment).
Prior to law school, David worked at Exxon Mobil (then called Mobil Oil Corporation) as an employee relations assistant.
David Uejio, MPP
D-3 “Navigate the Perfect Storm: Recruit the Captains of Tomorrow Today”
David Uejio is a Presidential Management Fellow at the National Institutes of Health. He is the project lead for NIH's employer branding and recruitment communications initiative. David has played a significant role in the success of NIH's flagship internship program, the Administrative Fellows Program. He also served as program coordinator for NIH's recruitment of Presidential Management Fellows. David is also the founder and President of the Bethesda Chapter of Young Government Leaders. In his role as president, David works to provide leadership development and networking opportunities for the many young federal employees in Montgomery County and the greater Bethesda region. Prior to his fellowship with NIH, David served as marketing coordinator for Superior Natural Foods, and as a business systems/IT analyst.
Brandon Phipps
D-4 “Charting the Course for Technology Project Management and Implementation”
Brandon Phipps is the Vice President of Sales & Business Development at PeopleAdmin, Inc. Over the past 12 years, Brandon has helped over 400 Public Sector Human Resource offices with the justification, planning, implementation and roll-out of solutions to improve Human Resource services.
Edward G. Wertheim, Ph.D.
E-1 “Skillful Negotiation”
Edward Wertheim is an Associate Professor of Human Resource Management at Northeastern University School of Business Administration. He received a PhD in Organizational Behavior from Yeshiva University, New York. Professor Wertheim is a professional mediator and teaches organizational behavior, negotiation, and mediation. Professor Wertheim has served as an assistant professor at Boston University, a research associate at City College of New York, and a systems analyst at the Westinghouse Learning Corporation before joining the College of Business Administration faculty in 1977. He has taught widely in Europe and Asia. Professor Wertheim is a member of the Academy of Management, New England Association for Conflict Resolution, and the North American Case Research Association. He serves on the Boards of three non-profits and is treasurer of the Brookline Chorus. He mediates in various courts in Massachusetts.
Cheryl Cepelak
E-2 “How to Plan for the Outgoing Tide”
Beginning in 1988, Cheryl Cepelak’s career with the State of Connecticut has seen her expertise utilized in a number of important assignments with several different agencies. She has served with the Department of Administrative Services, the University of Connecticut Health Center in Organization and Staff Development (OSD) and currently is the Director of the Organizational Development Unit of the Department of Correction. As Director, Cheryl oversees the implementation of strategic planning, conducting performance improvement initiatives, change management, group facilitation and team building. Her Unit coordinates and oversees the Department’s grants and resource development program as well as manages research requests.
Cheryl earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Connecticut in 1986 and has completed the Quality Management Certificate and Project Management Programs at the Rensselaer Institute at Hartford. She has experience using the Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and is certified by Career Systems International to facilitate career development, coaching skills and retention strategy workshops. She has also achieved the qualifications necessary to administer the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
Since 1999 Cheryl as been a member of IPMA-HR and has served in a variety of roles. She was President of the CT Chapter and Eastern Region and is presently serving as the Eastern Region Representative on the IPMA-HR Executive Council. In 2007 she received the IPMA-HR designation, Certified Specialist, Organizational and Employee Development. Cheryl has also served as the Co-Chairperson of the Connecticut Training and Development Network from 2005-2007. In the community she serves on the Board of the Susan G. Komen Foundation CT Affiliate and was the 2006 and 2007 Komen CT Race for the Cure Chairperson.
Daniel P. Callahan, Co-Presenter
E-2 “How to Plan for the Outgoing Tide”
Daniel Callahan joined the Connecticut Department of Correction in 1987 as a Personnel Officer. Throughout his career with the agency he has dealt with the entire range of human resource issues. He has been responsible for the establishment of new positions including interviewing, hiring and labor relations. Mr. Callahan has represented the Department during grievance and Workers Compensation hearings and has trained and advised administrative staff on those issues while serving as Director of Labor Relations. He has also established and implemented a comprehensive employee recognition program and has coordinated the Department’s awards process and ceremonies.
As a Personnel Officer 1 he oversaw nine correctional institutions with more than 600 employees and performed all personnel duties including the employee grievance process. He also was responsible for establishing positions at two new facilities. In 1991 Mr. Callahan was promoted to Personnel Officer 2 at Gates Correctional Institution and became a Principal Personnel Officer. In this position he represented the agency at labor negotiations and arbitrations and also created a curriculum and implemented a supervisory training program on discipline and grievances processes. In 1997 Mr. Callahan was promoted to Personnel Manager. He has been responsible for several major special projects including the consolidation of facilities and the transition of Health Services for the University of Connecticut Health Center.
Mr. Callahan received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Central Connecticut State University and completed the National Academy of Corrections course on Developing and Implementing an effective Career Development Program. He has received numerous Outstanding Managerial performance ratings and serves as an instructor for the DOC’s New Supervisors’ Training Program. He is past President of the Connecticut Chapter of the IPMA-HR.
Art Jackson
E-4 “Can You Hear Me Now?”
Art Jackson is an educator, consultant and professional speaker. He is a recognized expert in the areas of performance improvement through leadership, team building, diversity and inclusion and interpersonal skills. Art is the originator of the Purpose Centered Leadership™ theory that has been used to improve performance in many facets of public and private life.
Art is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Management. Mr. Jackson is continuing his studies towards a Master of Theology degree and is certified in pastoral counseling by the American Association of Christian Therapists.
Art has shared the platform with Les Brown, Stephen Covey and other prominent speakers. Presenting for major corporations and associations throughout the United States and Canada, Art’s expertise as a leader has been recognized by his selection to Who’s Who of Professional Managers.
Art is the author of the diversity and inclusion book “Lions and Tigers and Bears – Oh My.” Art is also completing his second book dealing with Purpose Centered Leadership entitled “Hangin’ Round The Barrel – How To Get Paid Everything You’re Worth and Be Worth Everything You’re Paid.”
Frank P. DiGiammarino
“Career Happiness – A framework”
Wednesday – Keynote Speaker
Frank P. DiGiammarino serves as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the National Academy of Public Administration. In this capacity, Frank supervises the conception and execution of special campaigns and initiatives and is responsible for driving strategic organizational change and opening new lines of business for the National Academy. Frank oversees the National Academy’s communications, government relations and business development activities. Frank promotes the National Academy by developing innovative approaches to addressing government’s management challenges.
An author and speaker on how to navigate government leadership transitions, Frank came to the National Academy in 2005 after many years as a senior consultant and strategist. Former positions include Director and DoD Practice Area lead at Touchstone Consulting Group, General Manager and Director of Program Management at Sapient Corporation, and Principal Consultant with the State and Local government practice at American Management Systems.
Career highlights include leading a program to re-engineer a $6 billion Army department with 15,000 personnel; driving reorganization of an 1100 person consultancy in 6 months with 85% adoption; and leading a 700 plus person office that delivered $120 million in annual revenue. Frank holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts and Master’s of Public Administration from The George Washington University. He serves on the Advisory Board for the Commonwealth College of the University of Massachusetts and the Advisory Board of the National Capital Area Chapter of the American Society of Public Administration. Frank has recently concluded serving as an advisor to the Change and Transformation Initiative at the George Washington University. He lives in Bethesda, MD with his wife Carol and three children.
